Gas container for aircraft



M y 19, 1931- V v. KOPIKOWSKI 1,306,470

GAS CONTAINER FOR AIRCRAFT Filed July 25, 1930 gwuentot l at'entecl May 19, 193i UNlTED STATES VICTOR KOIPIKOWSKI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA GAS CONTAINER FOR AIRCRAFT Application filed July 25, 1930. Serial No. 470,754.

This invention relates to air craft and has special reference to gas containers for air craft of the aeroplane type of air ships.

One important object of the invention is to provide an improved general construction of gas Container for this purpose wherein the container is in the form of a specially constructed shell.

A second important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of container built up of specially constructed'sections.

A third important object of the invention is to provide a novel form of container for this purpose having no longitudinal seams.

u A fourth important object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement of gas containers and aeroplane wherein the gas containers are carried above the wings of the aeroplane.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combina tions of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of an aeroplane showing the improved gas containers as used in connection therewith;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the container;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section to an enlarged scale showing the construction of the gas container.

In the accompanying drawings, an aeroplane 10 of any preferred construction is shown as provided with wings 11. Mounted on the upper side of each wing adjacent its outer end is a cradle formed of strap metal and having an arcuate center portion 12 provided at each end with a depending leg 13 having an outwardly extending foot 14 which is secured to the wing by a bolt or screw 15.

Each of these cradles supports a gas holding shell having a forward portion 16 closed at its front by an ogival pointed portion, This portion 16 and also the rear parts of the shell are spun or drawn from the metal soas to present a smooth and unbroken exterior free from longitudinal seams. Behind the portion 16 is an intermediate shell portion 17, the forward edge of which butts against the rear edge of the portion 16 and a splice strap or ring 18 is fitted inside of the joint thus formed and has the portions 16 and 17 riveted thereto by countersunk rivets 19 so as to leave a smoothexterior. The rear end of the portion 17 is rabbeted out on its exterior and is abutted by the front end of a correspondingly rabbeted hemispherical closure 20 so that a weld strip 21 may be held in the rabbets and welded to the parts 17 and 20 to firmly unite them. A suitable filling valve 22 is fitted to the rear end of the shell and is normally covered by a cap 23. Each of the shells thus formed is secured to its cradle by rivets 24:-

It is intended that these thin metal shells be filled with a light gas such as helium gas and,

when thus filled they will serve to assist greatly in supporting the aeroplane while, due to their construction, the smooth exteriors will present but little resistance to flight.

It is also intended that in flying craft, such as monoplanes, the shells could be attached to the under side of the Wing.

There has thus been provided a simple and eflicient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the principles thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described but it is desired to include all such as come within the scope claimed.

I claim 1. A gas containing shell for aeroplanes including a forward seamless portion formed from thin metal and closed at its forward end by an ogival point, a central cylindrical portion having its forward edge abutting the rear edge of the forward portion, a seam strap in the interior of the shell covering the said abutting edges, means flush with the exterior of said shell portions for securing the same together, a rear hemi-spherical closure having its forward edge abutting the rear edge of the cylindrical portion, a weld strap surrounding the abutting edges of the central Q 1mm and rear portions and rabbeted into said portions to lie flushwith the exte'rior,and a filling valve at the rear end 'of-the rear portion. 7

2. I The combination with an aeroplane having a pair of Wings, of cradles each fixed to the upper suriiace of. a1 respective wing'adiacent itsrouter l ldf l and thin gas @035 taining shells mounted in said cradles and.

10 having smooth and unbroken exteriorsur- V faces, each shellindlt'lding a forwardseanrr a a 7 less portion formed from thin metal and.

closed at its forward endv by anbgiVal'point,

a central cylindrical portionhavin its for Ward edge abutting the rear edge 0% the forward. portion, a. seamstrapin the: interior of. f .7 the. shell vcow?ering the said abutting edges;

: Inean sflnsh with the exterior of said. shell portions for-seeming the same: together, a

my rear hemispherical elosure having itsrfoiv 7' Ward edge abuttingthe rear edge otthe cy-' lindric'alf portion, a- Weld strap surrounding: the abutting, edges; of the vcentral and rear e portions and rabbeted into said portions to lie flush. with the exterior, and a filling Valve 1 at the rear end ofthe rear portion;

v 1 In testimony whereofi' I aflix my signature VICTOR KOPIKOWSKI; V 

